| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing the Haitian Heritage Museum for |
| 3 | its commitment and continuing efforts in honoring the |
| 4 | important contributions of Haitian Americans. |
| 5 |
|
| 6 | WHEREAS, the Haitian Heritage Museum was established to |
| 7 | showcase the key roles Haitians and Haitian Americans have |
| 8 | played in the history of the Americas, including trapper Jean |
| 9 | Baptiste Point du Sable, who settled on the shore of Lake |
| 10 | Michigan and established a trading post along the river at a |
| 11 | point that would later become the City of Chicago; renowned poet |
| 12 | and playwright Félix Morisseau-Leroy, a father of the Creole |
| 13 | Renaissance; and the many nameless brave individuals who rose up |
| 14 | and fought in the Haitian Revolution, the largest and most |
| 15 | successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere, and |
| 16 | WHEREAS, incorporated on March 3, 2004, as the only museum |
| 17 | of its kind in the United States, the Haitian Heritage Museum is |
| 18 | a nonprofit, educational institution dedicated to preserving, |
| 19 | interpreting, and celebrating the rich historic contributions of |
| 20 | Haiti, and |
| 21 | WHEREAS, located in Miami's internationally known "Design |
| 22 | District," the Haitian Heritage Museum houses a growing |
| 23 | collection of over 200 paintings and artifacts and has provided |
| 24 | art exhibitions, cultural arts events, and educational |
| 25 | programming as platforms to inspire and enrich South Florida's |
| 26 | cultural diversity and community development within the arts, |
| 27 | and |
| 28 | WHEREAS, rated "Best Museum in Miami" by the Miami New |
| 29 | Times, the Haitian Heritage Museum has over the course of 6 |
| 30 | years provided successful programs, including the Month of May, |
| 31 | Dancin in the District, Ayiti Exposé, and Museum Magnet, all |
| 32 | geared towards increasing the cultural awareness of African- |
| 33 | American and Haitian cultures, and |
| 34 | WHEREAS, inspired by the need to link all Haitian Americans |
| 35 | in the Diaspora, dedicated to serve as a cultural Mecca for not |
| 36 | only Haitian Americans of South Florida but Haitian Americans |
| 37 | throughout the United States and abroad, and committed to create |
| 38 | a legacy for future generations of young Haitian Americans, the |
| 39 | Haitian Heritage Museum continues to serve as a catalyst for |
| 40 | urban revitalization, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 41 |
|
| 42 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 43 | Florida: |
| 44 |
|
| 45 | That the Haitian Heritage Museum is recognized and |
| 46 | commended for its efforts in honoring and celebrating the |
| 47 | important contributions and achievements of Haitian Americans. |